REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 000-00-000



GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITYDe-carbonizing Healthcare and Large BuildingsGFO-19-504Contracts Homepage State of CaliforniaCalifornia Energy CommissionFebruary 2020Table of Contents TOC \o "2-4" \t "Heading 1,1" I.Introduction PAGEREF _Toc466892952 \h 1A.Purpose of Solicitation PAGEREF _Toc466892953 \h 1B.Key Words/Terms PAGEREF _Toc466892954 \h 2C.Applicants’ Admonishment PAGEREF _Toc466892955 \h 4D.additional requirements PAGEREF _Toc466892956 \h 4E.Background PAGEREF _Toc466892957 \h 5F.Funding PAGEREF _Toc466892958 \h 11G.Key Activities Schedule PAGEREF _Toc466892959 \h 144H.Notice of Pre-Application Workshop PAGEREF _Toc466892960 \h 14I.Questions PAGEREF _Toc466892961 \h 15II.Eligibility Requirements PAGEREF _Toc466892962 \h 17A.Applicant Requirements PAGEREF _Toc466892963 \h 17B.Project Requirements PAGEREF _Toc466892964 \h 199III.Application Organization and Submission Instructions PAGEREF _Toc466892965 \h 25A.Application Format, Page Limits, and Number of Copies PAGEREF _Toc466892966 \h 25B.Preferred Method For Delivery PAGEREF _Toc466892967 \h 26C.Hard Copy Delivery PAGEREF _Toc466892968 \h 26D.Application Organization and Content PAGEREF _Toc466892969 \h 27IV.Evaluation and Award Process PAGEREF _Toc466892970 \h 32A.Application Evaluation PAGEREF _Toc466892971 \h 32B.Ranking, Notice of Proposed Award, and Agreement Development PAGEREF _Toc466892972 \h 32C.Grounds to Reject an Application or Cancel an Award PAGEREF _Toc466892973 \h 33D.Miscellaneous PAGEREF _Toc466892974 \h 34E.Stage One: Application Screening35F.Stage Two: Application Scoring36Attachment NumberTitle1Application Form (requires signature) 2Executive Summary Form3Fact Sheet Template4Project Narrative Form5Project Team Form6Scope of Work Template 6aScope of Work Template: Project Schedule (Excel spreadsheet)7Budget Forms (Excel spreadsheet)8CEQA Compliance Form 9Reference and Work Product Form 10Contact List Template11Commitment and Support Letter Form (letters require signature)12California Based Entity (CBE) Form 13Applicant Declaration (requires signature)14References for Calculating Energy End-Use and GHG EmissionsI.IntroductionPurpose of Solicitation The purpose of this solicitation is to fund applied research and development and technology demonstration and deployment of innovative approaches and technologies to decarbonize healthcare facilities and large commercial buildings. The focus is reducing the carbon intensity on heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems (HVAC) and hot water systems. This solicitation is guided by two of the overall goals of the Natural Gas Research Program: a) reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from natural gas sources through increased efficiency and b) drive customer adoption of energy-efficient and low-carbon technology solutions for natural gas end uses. This solicitation targets healthcare facilities and large commercial buildings because these buildings use large amounts of natural gas for space and water heating and for other process loads. Healthcare buildings, such as hospitals, are the second largest consumer of energy per unit of floor area of all building types. Up to 50 percent of energy use in hospitals is for space heating and cooling. In the United States, the health care industry accounts for nearly 10 percent of total GHG emissions and between 2006 and 2016, these emissions have increased by 30 percent. Reducing natural gas use for these sectors will reduce GHG emissions.Projects must fall within the following project groups: Group 1: Develop advanced energy efficiency technology and decarbonization retrofit guidebook for hospitals. This guidebook focuses on emerging energy efficiency equipment and systems and design improvements that can reduce natural gas use, increase efficiency and provide a plan for decarbonization. The guidebook will serve as a reference document for hospital owners, operators, designers, architects and engineers and regulators to understand the benefits and potential of using advanced technologies and engineering designs that can minimize natural gas use and costs while helping to achieve the state’s decarbonization goals. Group 2: Demonstrate and deploy emerging space and/or water heating solutions to decarbonize large commercial buildings. These demonstrations focus on large commercial buildings with greater than 100,000 square feet, such as hospitals, institutional buildings (e.g., schools and colleges), offices, and correctional facilities. The focus is to demonstrate advanced, replicable natural gas using space and/or water heating technologies that can significantly reduce GHG emissions. In addition, proposed technologies/strategies must show how CEC funding would result in increased deployment of the advanced technologies across multiple facilities if the stated performance goals indicated in Part II are met.See Part II of this solicitation for project eligibility requirements. Applications will be evaluated as follows: Stage One proposal screening and Stage Two proposal scoring. Applicants may submit multiple applications, though each application may address only one of the project groups identified above. If an applicant submits multiple applications that address the same project group, each application must be for a distinct project (i.e., no overlap with respect to the tasks described in the Scope of Work, Attachment).Key Words/TermsWord/TermDefinitionApplicantThe respondent to this solicitationApplicationAn applicant’s formal written response to this solicitation CAMCommission Agreement Manager, the person designated by the Energy Commission to oversee the performance of an agreement resulting from this solicitation and to serve as the main point of contact for the RecipientCAOCommission Agreement OfficerCEQACalifornia Environmental Quality ActCOPCoefficient of Performance, the ratio of useful heating or cooling provided to work requiredCO2Carbon dioxideDaysDays refers to calendar days DecarbonizationDecarbonization means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the building's energy use through energy efficiency and use of non-fossil energy sources Disadvantaged CommunityThese are communities defined as areas representing census tracts scoring in the top 25 % in CalEnviroScreen 3.0. ( HYPERLINK "" Calenviroscreen) ElectrificationElectrification means converting fossil fueled equipment to electricity-using equipment.Energy CommissionCalifornia Energy CommissionLow-income CommunityLow-income communities are defined as communities within census tracts with median household incomes at or below 80 percent of the statewide median income, or at or below the threshold designated as low-income by the California Department of Housing and Community Development. (Cal HUD)Energy EquityEnergy equity means the fair distribution of benefits and burdens from energy production and consumptionLarge Commercial BuildingsLarge commercial buildings means buildings greater than 100,000 square feet that are used for non-residential purposes, such as hospitals, institutional buildings (e.g., schools and colleges), offices, and correctional facilities. NG IOUNatural Gas Investor-owned utility, including Pacific Gas and Electric Co., San Diego Gas and Electric Co., and Southern California Gas Co.NOPANotice of Proposed Award, a public notice that identifies award recipientsPrincipal InvestigatorThe lead scientist or engineer for the applicant’s project, who is responsible for overseeing the project; in some instances, the PrincipaI Investigator and Project Manager may be the same person Project ManagerThe person designated by the applicant to oversee the project and to serve as the main point of contact for the Energy CommissionProject PartnerAn entity or individual that contributes financially or otherwise to the project (e.g., match funding, provision of a test site), and does not receive Energy Commission funds RecipientThe recipient of an award under this solicitationReheatThe addition of heat to previously cooled airSolicitationThis entire document, including all attachments and exhibits (“solicitation” may be used interchangeably with “Grant Funding Opportunity”)StateState of CaliforniaTRLTechnology readiness levels are a method for estimating the maturity of technologies during the acquisition phase of a program.Source: U.S. Department of Energy, “Technology Readiness Assessment Guide”. TRL Applicants’ AdmonishmentThis solicitation contains application requirements and instructions. Applicants are responsible for carefully reading the solicitation, asking appropriate questions in a timely manner, ensuring that all solicitation requirements are met, submitting all required responses in a complete manner by the required date and time, and carefully rereading the solicitation before submitting an application. In particular, please carefully read the Screening/Scoring Criteria and Grounds for Rejection in Part IV, and the relevant PIER grant terms and conditions located at: Funding OpportunitiesApplicants are responsible for the cost of developing applications. This cost cannot be charged to the State. All submitted documents will become public records upon the posting of the Notice of Proposed Award.additional requirementsTime is of the essence. Funds available under this solicitation have encumbrance deadlines as early as June 30, 2020.? This means that the Energy Commission must approve proposed awards at a business meeting (usually held monthly) prior to June 30, 2020 in order to avoid expiration of the funds. Prior to approval and encumbrance, the Energy Commission must comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). To comply with CEQA, the Commission must have CEQA-related information from applicants and sometimes other entities, such as local governments, in a timely manner. Unfortunately, even with this information, the Commission may not be able to complete its CEQA review prior to the encumbrance deadline for every project. For example, if a project requires an Environmental Impact Report, the process to complete it can take many months. For these reasons, it is critical that applicants organize project proposals in a manner that minimizes the time required for the Commission to comply with CEQA and provide all CEQA-related information to the Commission in a timely manner such that the Commission is able to complete its review in time for it to meet its encumbrance deadline.Reservation of right to cancel proposed award. In addition to any other right reserved to it under this solicitation or that it otherwise has, if the Energy Commission determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that the CEQA review associated with a proposed project would not likely be completed prior to the encumbrance deadline referenced above, and that the Commission’s ability to meet its encumbrance deadline may thereby be jeopardized, the Energy Commission may cancel a proposed award and award funds to the next highest scoring applicant, regardless of the originally proposed applicant’s diligence in submitting information and materials for CEQA review. Examples of situations that may arise related to CEQA review include but are not limited to:Example 1: If another state agency or local jurisdiction, such as a city or county, has taken the role of lead agency under CEQA, the Energy Commission’s review may be delayed while waiting for a determination from the lead agency.Example 2: If the proposed work is part of a larger project for which a detailed environmental analysis has been or will be prepared by another state agency or local jurisdiction, the Energy Commission’s review may be delayed as a result of waiting for a supplemental or initial analysis, respectively, from the other agency.Example 3: If the nature of the proposed work is such that a project is not categorically or otherwise exempt from the requirements of CEQA, and an initial study or other detailed environmental analysis appears to be necessary, the Energy Commission’s review, or the lead agency’s review, may take longer than the time available to encumber the funds. If an initial study or environmental impact report has already been completed by another state agency or a local jurisdiction, serving as the lead agency, the applicant must ensure that such an analysis covers the work in the proposed project, or must obtain a revised analysis and determination from the lead agency reviewing the proposed project.Example 4: If the proposed project clearly falls under a statutory or categorical exemption, or is project for which another state agency or local jurisdiction has already adopted a CEQA finding that the project will cause no significant effect on the environment, the project will likely have greater success in attaining rapid completion of CEQA requirements.The above examples are not exhaustive of instances in which the Energy Commission may or may not be able to comply with CEQA within the encumbrance deadline, and are only provided as further clarification for potential applicants. Please plan project proposals accordingly. BackgroundNatural Gas R&D ProgramThis solicitation will award projects under the Natural Gas program, which is funded by a ratepayer surcharge on natural gas consumed by ratepayers of NG IOUs in California (see California Public Utilities Code section 890 and 895). The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) designated the California Energy Commission as administrator of the program in August 2004. The purpose of the program is to benefit California natural gas ratepayers by funding public interest research and development activities, which the CPUC has defined as “developing science or technology, the benefits of which accrues to California citizens and are not adequately addressed by competitive or regulated entities.” Program Areas, Strategic Objectives, and Funding InitiativesNatural Gas RD&D projects must fall within one or more specific focus areas (“research initiatives”) identified in the Natural Gas Research, Development, and Demonstration Budget Plan. This solicitation targets the following funding initiative from the Natural Gas Research, Development, and Demonstration Budget Plan for Fiscal Year 2018/2019. This solicitation targets the following program area(s) and funding initiative(s):Research Area: Energy EfficiencyResearch Initiative Reduce Natural Gas Use for GHG Emission Intensive Industries/FacilitiesApplicable Laws, Policies, and Background Documents This solicitation addresses the energy goals described in the following laws, policies, and background documents.Laws/RegulationsAssembly Bill (AB) 32 Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 AB 32 created a comprehensive program to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in California. GHG reduction strategies include a reduction mandate of 1990 levels by 2020 and a cap-and-trade program. AB 32 also required the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to develop a Scoping Plan that describes the approach California will take to reduce GHGs. ARB must update the plan every five years.Additional information: ARB AB32 Applicable Law: California Health and Safety Code §§ 38500 et. seq. Senate Bill (SB) 32 - California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006: emissions limitAB 32 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The state board is required to approve a statewide GHG emissions limit equivalent to the statewide GHG emissions level in 1990 to be achieved by 2020 and to adopt rules and regulations in an open public process to achieve the maximum, technologically feasible, and cost-effective GHG emissions reductions. This requires the state board to ensure that statewide GHG emissions are reduced to 40% below the 1990 level by 2030.Additional information: ARB Scoping PlanAB 758, Building Efficiency, Statutes of 2009AB 758 requires the Energy Commission to collaborate with the California Public Utilities Commission and stakeholders to develop a comprehensive program to achieve greater energy and water savings in existing residential and nonresidential buildings. The Energy Commission developed a Existing Buildings Energy Action Plan in August 2015. Additional information: Pub 400-2012-15Applicable Law: California Public Resources Code § 25943, California Public Utilities Code §§ 381.2 and 385.2 seq.SB 100 - The 100 Percent Clean Energy Act of 2018 SB 100 requires that 100 % of retail sales of electricity to California end-use customers and 100 % of electricity procured to serve all state agencies come from eligible renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources by December 31, 2045. The bill requires the CPUC and the Energy Commission, in consultation with the California Air Resources Board to ensure that California’s transition to a zero-carbon electric system does not cause or contribute to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) increases elsewhere in the western grid. Additional information: SB 100 SB 350 Clean Energy and Pollution Rection Act of 2015SB 350 does the following: 1) expands California’s RPS goals and requires retail sellers of electricity and local publicly owned electricity to increase their procurement of eligible renewable energy resources to 40 % by the end of 2024, 45 % by the end of 2027, and 50 % by the end of 2030; 2) requires the Energy Commission to establish annual targets for statewide energy efficiency savings in electricity and natural gas final end uses of retail customers by January 1, 2030; and 3) provide for transformation of the Independent System Operator into a regional organization. Additional information: SB 350Appliance Efficiency RegulationsThe Energy Commission promulgates appliance efficiency regulations that require manufacturers of various new appliances sold or offered for sale in California to test them using specified test methods. Covered appliances include refrigerators, air conditioners, heaters, plumbing fitting/fixtures, lighting, washers, dryers, cooking products, electric motors, transformers, power supplies, televisions, and battery charger systems. Additional information: Building Standands Commission; Appliance StandardsApplicable Law: California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Division 2, Chapter 4, Article 4, §§ 1601 et. seq.California Energy CodeThe Energy Code is a component of the California Building Standards Code, and is published every three years through the collaborative efforts of state agencies including the California Building Standards Commission and the Energy Commission. The Code ensures that new and existing buildings achieve energy efficiency and preserve outdoor and indoor environmental quality through use of the most energy efficient technologies and construction.Additional information: Buildings Standards T24, Part 6 Applicable Law: California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 6 and associated administrative regulations in Part 1Policies/PlansIntegrated Energy Policy Report (Biennial)California Public Resources Code Section 25302 requires the Energy Commission to release a biennial report that provides an overview of major energy trends and issues facing the state. The IEPR assesses and forecasts all aspects of energy industry supply, production, transportation, delivery, distribution, demand, and pricing. The Energy Commission uses these assessments and forecasts to develop energy policies. The 2015 IEPR included a multi-agency hearing on drought response and provided recommendations for future research and analysis areas.Additional information: Energy PolicyApplicable Law: California Public Resources Code §§ 25300 et seq. CPUC’s Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan (2008)The Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan creates a roadmap for achieving energy efficiency within the residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural sectors. The plan was updated in January 2011 to include a lighting chapter.Additional information: CPUC Strategic PlanThe Residential New Construction Zero Net Energy Action Plan supports the California Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan’s goal to have 100% of new homes achieve zero net energy beginning in 2020. The action plan provides a foundation for the development of a robust and self-sustaining zero net energy market for new homes.Additional information: New Res Constr Zero Net Energy Action PlanCalifornia’s Existing Buildings Energy Efficiency Action PlanThe Existing Buildings Energy Efficiency Action Plan provides a 10-year roadmap to activate market forces and transform California’s existing residential, commercial, and public building stock into high performing and energy efficient buildings. The Plan provides a comprehensive framework centered on five goals, each with an objective and a series of strategies to achieve it. Each strategy includes industry and/or government implementation partners. Water related items are addressed in several of the strategies from the Existing Buildings Energy Efficiency Action Plan including but not limited to strategies 1.5, 2.2, 4.1, and 5.7 from the plan.Additional Information: Existing Buildings Energy Efficiency Action Plan 2019 California Energy Efficiency Action PlanThe Energy Efficiency Action Plan expands on the Existing Buildings Energy Action Plan and includes topics related to existing buildings energy efficiency, low-income barriers to energy efficiency, and doubling energy efficiency by 2030 process. The SB 350 Doubling of Energy Efficiency by 2030 report also expands beyond existing buildings to include agriculture, industry, newly constructed buildings, conservation voltage reduction, and electrification. This report combines these topics within the scope of the Action Plan to create a comprehensive statewide energy efficiency action plan.Additional information: Existing Buildings Energy Efficiency Action Plan Executive Order B-30-15Governor Brown’s Executive Order B-30-15 established a new interim statewide greenhouse gas emission reduction target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 40 % below 1990 levels by 2030, to ensure California meets its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 80 % below 1990 levels by 2050.Executive Order B-55-18Governor Brown’s Executive Order B-55-18 established a new statewide goal to achieve carbon neutrality as soon as possible, and no later than 2045, and achieve and maintain a negative emissions thereafter. This goal is in addition to the existing statewide targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.Reference DocumentsRefer to the link below for information about past Energy Commission research projects and activities: Energy ResearchRefer to the documents below for information about activities associated with hospitals and large buildings.Advanced HVAC Technology Demonstration Project to Reduce Natural Gas Use in Hospitals. PIR-16-004. This project demonstrates an efficient, advanced air-distribution approach to reduce energy waste in hospitals by using real-time indoor air quality sensors, advanced fault detection and diagnostic software, and monitoring-based commissioning. ?Advanced HVAC Technology Demonstration Project to Reduce Natural Gas Use in Hospitals Demonstration of High Efficiency Hot Water Systems in Commercial Foodservice, PIR-14-006. This project validates the energy-savings of high-efficiency commercial food service equipment, advanced hot water distribution system designs, and optimization techniques to encourage the design community to adopt these measures. Water Heating for the Residential, Commercial and Industrial Sectors, 500-15-006. This project demonstrates aluminum mini-channel solar water heating collectors on residential single and multifamily buildings in the Los Angeles basin. Copper-based solar collectors produce low-grade steam for such uses as dry cleaning, steam cleaning, produce drying, sterilization, and blanching of vegetables and will be laboratory tested. of Advanced Solar Thermal Technology into Industrial Processes, PIR-15-010. This project demonstrates a high efficiency solar thermal evacuated tube system that will offset the use of natural gas steam boilers.?Integration of Advanced Solar Thermal Technology into Industrial ProcessesThe following documents were consulted in the preparation of this solicitation: Facility Guidelines Institute (2014), Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Outpatient Facilities.Facility Guidelines Institute, (2014), Guidelines for Design and Construction of Residential Health, Care, and Support Facilities.American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), (2012), Advanced Energy Design Guide for Large Hospitals. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), (2009), Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities.American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), (2004) Standard 62.1GuidelinesHealth-care-facilities-resourcesASHRAE Standard 622014 FGI Guidelines for Design and Construction of Residential Health, Care, and Support Facilities National Renewable Energy Laboratory, (2010), Large Hospital 50 percent Energy Savings: Technical Support DocumentNREL: Large Hospital 50 percent Energy SavingsPacific Gas and Electric, (2016), Savings by Design Healthcare Baseline Procedures.. Energy Information Administration, (2003), Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) Institute of Architects (2006) Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities Gas Annual Reports:Pub 500-2019-026Pub 500-2017-039FundingAmount Available and Minimum/ Maximum Funding AmountsThere is up to $2,446,850 available for grants awarded under this solicitation. The total, minimum, and maximum funding amounts for each project group are listed below.Project GroupAvailable fundingMinimum award amountMaximum award amountMinimum match funding (% of Natural Gas Funds Requested)Group 1: Develop advanced energy efficiency technology and decarbonization retrofit guidebook for hospitals$1,000,000$500,000$1,000,000$0Group 2: Demonstrate and deploy emerging space and/or water heating solutions to decarbonize large commercial buildings.$1,446,850$750,000$1,446,85020% of grant amount requested.Match Funding RequirementNo match is required for Group 1. For Group 2, match funding is required in the amount of at least 20% of the requested natural gas project funds. Applicants that provide more than the minimum match amount will receive additional points during the scoring phase (See Part IV).“Match funds” include the following if used for project expenses: (1) “cash in hand” funds; (2) equipment; (3) materials; (4) information technology services; (5) travel; (6) subcontractor costs; (7) contractor/project partner in-kind labor costs; and (8) “advanced practice” costs. Match funding sources include the prime contractor, subcontractors, and pilot testing/demonstration/deployment sites (e.g., test site staff services). “Match funds” do not include: Energy Commission awards, , future/contingent awards from other entities (public or private), the cost or value of the project work site, or the cost or value of structures or other improvements affixed to the project work site permanently or for an indefinite period of time. Definitions of “match funding” categories are listed below.“Cash in hand” Funds means funds that are in the recipient’s possession and are reserved for the proposed project, meaning that they have not been committed for use or pledged as match for any other project. “Cash in hand” funds include funding awards earned or received from other agencies for the proposed technologies or study (but not for the identical work). Proof that the funds exist as cash is required. Cash in hand funds will be considered more favorably than other types of match funding during the scoring phase.“Equipment” means an item with a unit cost of at least $5,000 and a useful life of at least one year. Purchasing equipment with match funding is encouraged because there are no disposition requirements at the end of the agreement for such equipment. Typically, grant recipients may continue to use equipment purchased with Energy Commission funds if the use is consistent with the intent of the original agreement. “Materials” means tangible project items that cost less than $5,000 and have a useful life of less than one year. “Information Technology Services” means the design, development, application, implementation, support, and management of computer-based information systems directly related to the tasks in the Scope of Work. All information technology services in this area must comply with the electronic file format requirements in Subtask 1.1 (Products) of the Scope of Work (Attachment).“Travel” means all travel required to complete the tasks identified in the Scope of Work. Travel includes in-state and out-of-state travel, and travel to conferences. PIER natural gas funds should be limited to lodging and any form of transportation (e.g., airfare, rental car, public transit, parking, mileage). Use of match funds for out-of-state travel and travel to conferences is encouraged because the Energy Commission might not approve the use of its funds for such travel. If an applicant plans to travel to conferences, including registration fees, they must use match funds. Applicants should be aware of all state and shall adhere to travel restrictions of using state funds to travel to certain other states pursuant to AB 1887 (2016) and codified at California Government Code Section 11139.8. Applicants should be aware and adhere to specific travel restrictions when using state funds for travel to other states pursuant to AB 1887 (2016) and codified at California Government Code Section 11139.8. All applicants are encouraged to go to the Attorney General’s website AG Travel Restrictions for a current list of states subject to travel restrictions. Grants awarded under this solicitation shall not contain travel paid for with Commission funds (applicants can instead use match funds) to the listed states unless the Commission approves in writing that the trip falls within one of the exceptions under the law.“Subcontractor Costs” means all costs incurred by subcontractors for the project, including labor and non-labor costs.“Contractor/Project Partner In-Kind Labor Costs” means contractor or project partner labor costs that are not charged to the Energy Commission.“’Advanced Practice’ Costs” means costs not charged to the Energy Commission that represent the incremental cost difference between standard and advanced practices, measures, and products used to implement the proposed project. For example, if the cost of purchasing and/or installing insulation that meets the applicable building energy efficiency standard is $1/square foot and the cost of more advanced, energy efficient insulation is $3/square foot, the Recipient may count up to $2/square foot as match funds.Match funds may be spent only during the agreement term, either before or concurrently with natural gas funds. Match funds also must be reported in invoices submitted to the Energy Commission. All applicants providing match funds must submit commitment letters that: (1) identify the source(s) of the funds; (2) justify the dollar value claimed; (3) provide an unqualified (i.e., without reservation or limitation) commitment that guarantees the availability of the funds for the project; and (4) provide a strategy for replacing the funds if they are significantly reduced or lost. Please see Commitment and Support Letter Form (Attachment). Commitment and support letters must be submitted with the application to be considered. Change in Funding AmountAlong with any other rights and remedies available to it, the Energy Commission reserves the right to:Increase or decrease the available funding and the group minimum/maximum award amounts described in this section.Allocate any additional or unawarded funds to passing applications, in rank order.Reduce funding to an amount deemed appropriate if the budgeted funds do not provide full funding for agreements. In this event, the Recipient and Commission Agreement Manager will reach agreement on a reduced Scope of Work commensurate with available funding.Key Activities ScheduleKey activities, dates, and times for this solicitation and for agreements resulting from this solicitation are presented below. An addendum will be released if the dates change for activities that appear in bold.ACTIVITYDATETIME Solicitation ReleaseJanuary 24, 2020Pre-Application WorkshopFebruary 7, 202010:00 a.m.Deadline for Written QuestionsFebruary 10, 20205:00 p.m.Anticipated Distribution of Questions and Answers Week of February 24, 2020Deadline to Submit ApplicationsMarch 16, 20205:00 p.m.Anticipated Notice of Proposed Award Posting DateMarch 31, 2020Anticipated Energy Commission Business Meeting DateJune 10, 2020Anticipated Agreement Start DateJune 30, 2020Anticipated Agreement End Date March 31, 2024Notice of Pre-Application WorkshopEnergy Commission staff will hold one Pre-Application Workshop to discuss the solicitation with potential applicants. Participation is optional but encouraged. Applicants may attend the workshop in-person, via the internet (WebEx, see instructions below), or via conference call on the date and at the time and location listed below. Please call (916) 654-4381 or refer to the Energy Commission's website at Energy Commission Contracts Page to confirm the date and time.Date and time: February 7, 2020, 10:00 a.m.Location: California Energy Commission1516 9th StreetSacramento, CA 95814Rosenfeld Hearing RoomWheelchair AccessibleWebEx Instructions:To join the WebEx meeting, go to Webex and enter the meeting number and password below: Meeting Number: 928 263 573Meeting Password: meeting@10Topic: De-carbonizing Healthcare and Large BuildingsTo Logon with a Direct Phone Number: After logging into WebEx, a prompt will appear on-screen for a phone number. In the “Number” box, enter your area code and phone number and click “OK” to receive a call for the audio of the meeting. International callersmay use the "Country/Region" button to help make their connection.To Logon with an Extension Phone Number: After you login, a prompt will ask for your phone number. Select “CANCEL.” Call 1-866-469-3239 (toll-free in the U.S. and Canada). When prompted, enter the meeting number above and the unique Attendee ID number listed in the top left area of the screen after login. International callers may dial in using the “Show all global call-in numbers” link (also in the top left area).Telephone Access Only:Call 1-866-469-3239 (toll-free in the U.S. and Canada). When prompted, enter the meeting number above. Technical Support:For assistance with problems or questions about joining or attending the meeting, please call WebEx Technical Support at 1-866-229-3239. System Requirements: To determine whether your computer is compatible, visit:Webex Support.Meeting Preparation: The playback of UCF (Universal Communications Format) rich media files requires appropriate players. Please determine whether the players are installed on your computer by visiting: Webex System.If you have a disability and require assistance to participate, please contact Erica Rodriguez by e-mail at Erica.Rodriguez@energy. or (916) 654-4314 at least five days in advance. QuestionsDuring the solicitation process, direct questions to the Commission Agreement Officer listed below:Marissa Sutton, Commission Agreement OfficerCalifornia Energy Commission1516 Ninth Street, MS-18Sacramento, California 95814Telephone: (916) 651-9409Fax: (916) 654-4423E-mail: marissa.sutton@energy.Applicants may ask questions at the Pre-Application Workshop, and may submit written questions via mail, electronic mail, and by FAX. However, all technical questions must be received by the deadline listed in the “Key Activities Schedule” above. Questions received after the deadline may be answered at the Energy Commission's discretion. Non-technical questions (e.g., questions concerning application format requirements or attachment instructions) may be submitted to the Commission Agreement Officer (CAO) at any time prior the application deadline. A question and answer document will be e-mailed to all parties who attended the Pre-Application Workshop and provided their contact information on the sign-in sheet. The questions and answers will also be posted on the Commission’s website at: an applicant discovers a conflict, discrepancy, omission, or other error in the solicitation at any time prior to the application deadline, the applicant may notify the Energy Commission in writing and request modification or clarification of the solicitation. The Energy Commission, at its discretion will provide modifications or clarifications by either an addendum to the solicitation or by written notice to all parties who requested the solicitation. At its discretion, the Energy Commission may re-open the question/answer period to provide all applicants the opportunity to seek any further clarification required. Any verbal communication with a Commission employee concerning this solicitation is not binding on the State and will in no way alter a specification, term, or condition of the solicitation. Therefore, all communication should be directed in writing to the assigned CAO.II.Eligibility RequirementsApplicant RequirementsEligibilityThis solicitation is open to all public and private entities. Demonstration projects in this solicitation must be located in the service territory of a California natural gas Investor Owned Utility (NG IOU), which includes Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, and Southern California Gas Company. All projects in this solicitation must benefit natural gas IOU ratepayers.Terms and ConditionsEach grant agreement resulting from this solicitation will include terms and conditions that set forth the recipient’s rights and responsibilities. By signing the Application Form (Attachment), each applicant agrees to enter into an agreement with the Energy Commission to conduct the proposed project according to the terms and conditions that correspond to its organization, without negotiation: (1) University of California and California State University terms and conditions; (2) U.S. Department of Energy terms and conditions; or (3) standard terms and conditions. All terms and conditions are located at Terms and Conditions. Failure to agree to the terms and conditions by taking actions such as failing to sign the Application Form or indicating that acceptance is based on modification of the terms will result in rejection of the application. Applicants must read the terms and conditions carefully. The Energy Commission reserves the right to modify the terms and conditions prior to executing grant agreements. California Secretary of State RegistrationAll corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships (LPs) and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) are required to be registered and in good standing with the California Secretary of State prior to its project being recommended for approval at an Energy Commission Business Meeting. If not currently registered with the California Secretary of State, applicants are encouraged to contact the Secretary of State’s Office as soon as possible to avoid potential delays in beginning the proposed project(s) (should the application be successful). For more information, contact the Secretary of State’s Office via its website at sos.. Sole proprietors using a fictitious business name must be registered with the appropriate county and provide evidence of registration to the Energy Commission prior to their project being recommended for approval at an Energy Commission Business Meeting.California-Based Entities Preference points will only be available for applications that show more than 60 percent of the funds awarded will go to a CBE.Pursuant to California Public Resources Code Section 25620.5(h), the California Energy Commission’s Natural Gas Program must give priority to “California-Based Entities” (CBEs) when making awards. California Public Resources Code Section 25620.5(i) defines “CBE” as a corporation or other business entity organized for the transaction of business that either: Has its headquarters in California AND manufactures in California the product that is the subject of the award; orHas an office for the transaction of business in California and substantially manufactures the product or substantially performs the research within California that is the subject of the award.Proposals must meet the following requirements in order to receive CBE preference points:The proposal must include a CBE as either the recipient or a subcontractor. The budget must show that the CBE(s) will receive more than 60.00% of the funds awarded.5. Disadvantaged and Low-income Communities Preference points are only available for Group 2 projects that benefit disadvantaged and low-income communities. In 2017, the Legislature passed Assembly Bill 523 (Reyes) directing that at least 25% of Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) technology demonstration and deployment funding be allocated to projects at sites located in, and benefiting, disadvantaged communities; and an additional minimum 10% of funds be allocated to projects sites located in and benefiting low-income communities. The AB 523 also requires the Energy Commission’s EPIC program, to take into account adverse localized health impacts of proposed projects to the greatest extent possible, and give preference for funding to clean energy projects that benefit residents of low-income or disadvantaged communities.For more information on AB 523, see: California Energy Commission is committed to ensuring all Californians have an opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs and services. While it is not required to complete the project within a disadvantaged community, demonstration projects located and benefiting disadvantaged and/or low-income communities will be considered under the scoring criteria for this GFO. Low-income communities and households are defined as the census tracts and households, respectively, that are either at or below 80 percent of the statewide median income, or at or below the threshold designated as low-income by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Visit the California Department of Housing & Community Development site for the current HCD State Income Limits: HCD State Income Limits. Disadvantaged communities are defined as areas representing census tracts scoring in the top 25% in CalEnviroScreen 3.0. For more information on disadvantaged communities and to determine if your project is in a disadvantaged community, use the California Communities Environmental Health Screening tool (CalEnviroScreen 3.0):CalenviroscreenProject RequirementsApplied Research and Development and Technology Demonstration and DeploymentProjects may be either “applied research and development” or “technology demonstration and deployment” depending on the group selected. Projects within the “applied research and development” stage include activities that support pre-commercial technologies and approaches that are designed to solve specific problems in the electricity sector. By contrast, the “technology demonstration and deployment” stage involves the installation and operation of pre-commercial technologies or strategies at a scale sufficiently large and in conditions sufficiently reflective of anticipated actual operating environments to enable appraisal of the operational and performance characteristics and the financial risks. Applied research and development activities include early, pilot-scale testing activities that are necessary to demonstrate the feasibility of pre-commercial technologies.De-carbonizing Healthcare and Large BuildingsThis solicitation targets healthcare and large commercial buildings with the objective of identifying advanced technologies that can help these sectors reduce natural gas from HVAC and hot water systems. Group 1 focuses on preparing a design guide to help hospitals plan and design retrofit projects to help them meet state’s decarbonization goals. It is expected that this guidebook will be developed in collaboration with hospital engineers and designers, state regulatory agenices (e.g., Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development) and others to ensure that the guidebook will be a tool that provides guidance on advanced technologies for hospital retrofits. Group 2 focuses on demonstrating and deploying advanced technologies that accelerate decarbonization of large commercial buildings, focusing on the HVAC and hot water systems. The emphasis is that the technologies must have potential for widespread application among different building types. Demonstration sites must show a pathway to deploy the technology to other buildings. Research on Group 2 should be at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7-9 at the start of the research. The goal of the research is to move the TRL up at least one level by the end of the research.Project FocusGroup 1: Develop advanced energy efficiency technology and decarbonization retrofit guidebook for hospitals.The guidebook focuses on use of emerging energy efficiency technology that can help hospitals minimize natural gas use, increase the efficiency and provide a plan for decarbonization to meet the state’s GHG reduction goals. The purpose is to familizarize engineers, designers, hospital operators and regulatory agencies with decarbonization technologies and how best to incorporate these systems into hospital retrofit plans. The guidebook can serve as a comprehensive reference document to understand the benefits and potential of using technologies and engineering designs that could minimize future energy costs while helping to achieve the state’s decarbonization goals. The following lists the potential topics to be discussed in the guidebook at a minimum:Overview of Design InfluencesBuilding and SiteClimateBuilding ConfigurationImpacts of Space Types on Energy Use and RecomendationsHVACHot WaterCosts: Electrical Infrastructure and operation and maintenance costsWorkforce – designers, implementers and operatorsDecarbonization Measure Constraints and SolutionsControl StrategiesTechnologies, Strategies and Recommendations by Climate ZoneDesign, Implementation and Regulatory ConsiderationsRelevant case studies of demonstrated technologiesHow to Implement RecommendationsTable 1 identifies example technologies. The baseline conditions are what is normally specified and the research design considerations are the advancements and improvements to be included in the guidebook.Table 1: Example Technologies for Guidebook Potential TechnologyBaselineResearch Design ConsiderationsMinimize Reheat Load Rarely usedRemove moisture with less mechanical cooling and other innovative technologies so that less reheat is usedBetter ZoningRarely usedSeparately zone parts of hospital that are not used 24/7 and in patient/non-patient areas.SterilizationSteam is CommonRather than using steam, use separate systems that promote modular decarbonizationHeat Pumps Seasonal Performance Factor = 25 cooling (using ambient loop) and 6 for heatingInnovative ways to couple hot side of heat pump to provide heating for space heating/DHWCondensing BoilersStandard boiler efficiency: 80 percentUse of modular condensing boilers to better match load with natural gas used. > 95 percent efficiencyHeat Recovery Chillers Rarely usedUse of heat recovery chillers in design process for retrofits CO2 Water HeatingNG Water Heating: At best 95 percent + efficient while heat pump water heating: COP can be greater than 5 Use of Natural Refrigerant CO2 and heat pumps with COPs of 5 or more to offload boilers for heating and DHWHigh Temperature Solar Thermal Water HeatingRarely usedUse of high temperature evacuated tube solar thermal to produce 190 F or aboveStorage of both hot and cold waterSome Thermal Energy Storage on cold side but concerns about storing warm water and legionella Find innovative ways (phase change material) to store both hot and cold water to offload systems during peak periods including eutecticsDisplacement VentilationRarely usedMinimize or eliminate reheat and ventilation noiseImproved Heat ExchangersRarely usedMini-channel or micro-channel air to water heat exchangers to maximize heat transfer in building hot water systemsUse of eutectics to store energy from compressor for use in heating waterHeat is rejected to condenser or cooling towerProvide hot water from waste heat of smaller air conditioning systems to reduce natural gas usuage.ControlsControls, in many instances, are antiquated and do not have features that can optimize systems thatimpact natural gas usageModern controls that allow multiple systems to “talk” to each other to optimize and reduce use of natural gas in HVAC, hot water, air handlers, boiler operation, etc.)The Project Narrative (Attachment 4) must discuss the following in the sections identified: Technical ApproachDescribe how the guidebook will be developed including, but not limited to, discussion of the following:Expand on additional topics identified previously in this section and the plan to seek out informationPlan for stakeholder engagement and inputIdentification of pathways to accommodate new and future technologiesHow to ensure that the guidebook maintains its relevance beyond the term of the agreementTechnology transfer play to inform stakeholders of the guidebookTeam Qualifications, Capabilities and ResourcesIdentify and describe experience in preparing guidebooksDiscuss the current status of these guidebooks and how many users (e.g., web hits, etc.)Describe experience with the technologies listed in Table 1, including the application, your role and the outcome.Identify other technologies to be considered and why.Describe and provide examples of specific experience with healthcare facilities that actually resulted in implementation of energy efficiency measures to reduce natural gas consumption. Include both technical and regulatory experience.Describe experience with implementing advanced energy efficiency measures for those listed in Table 1 as well as othes for healthcare facilities and the results. Include both technical, economic and regulatory experience. Group 2: Demonstrate and deploy emerging space and water heating solutions to decarbonize large commercial buildings.This group focuses on demonstrating and deploying emerging, replicable space and water heating technologies that can significantly reduce GHG emissions in existing large commercial buildings. These demonstrations focus on large commercial buildings with greater than 100,000 square feet and can include hospitals, institutional buildings (e.g., schools and colleges), offices, and correctional facilities. The focus is to demonstrate emerging technologies that can significantly reduce GHG emissions. Technologies/strategies must show how CEC funding would result in increased deployment of the advanced technologies across multiple facilities if the stated performance goals indicated in Table 2 are met.Site and Technology RequirementsDemonstrations of one or more advanced technologies must occur in at least one large commercial building. Potential eligible technologies are listed in Table 2. Other emerging technologies can be considered if they meet the definition of emerging technology. All technologies must meet the following requirements:Demonstrate that the technology can resolve the problems and challenges identified in Table 2.Demonstate that the technology can be deployed in multiple similar facilities (e.g., buildings of the same ownership as the demonstration site) once the performance/research goals in Table 2 are met.Demonstrate that the technology funded is not a “one-off” project and future installations are highly dependent on future government or other incentives.Demonstrate that there is technical, regulatory and manufacturing support for the technologies, including a demonstrated pathway for widespread deployment.Table 2 – Summary of Potential Technologies/Systems for Group 2Technology/SystemsProblems/ ChallengesResearch GoalDevelop and demonstrate emerging space, water or process heating solutions to reduce natural gas use in large commercial buildings. Could be one technology or a system solution, involving multiple technologies. Consider all the technologies listed in Table 1 and include:High temperature solar thermal (>190 deg F) for domestic hot water and space heating or reheat loads coupled with innovative state of the art heat exchangers to maximize heat transferModular CO2 heat pumps for domestic hot water coupled with heat harvesters (phase change material) to store excess heat for high hot water demand periodsUsing heat recovery chillers, for example, could meet a sizable portion of the facility’s space heating load. An additional boost could also come from modular CO2 heat pump water heaters and/or evacuated tube solar heating systemsUsing innovative (non-mechanical cooling) ways to remove moisture before the chiller, lower chiller lift and ultimately less reheat. Reheat could be downsized and supplied by a combination of CO2 heat pump water heaters and evacuated tube solar. Humidification can be provided with these technologies or separate decarbonization systems for humidification.Steam Systems and boilers require large amounts of natural gas Over cooling and then using large amounts of natural gas for reheat Chillers without heat recovery and sending waste heat to cooling towersNeed for humidity control with natural gas fired systemsNo real ability to store large amounts of hot waterCurrent conventional technology do not maximize heat recovery opportunities and will not help facilities meet the state’s GHG reduction goalsOverall 30 percent reduction in natural gas usage compared to current conventional technology with a simple payback of less than 7 yearsTechnologies that also save electricity could be considered if the predominant energy savings is coming from natural gas.The Project Narrative must discuss the following in the sections identified: Technical ApproachDiscuss how the project will meet or exceed the minimum requirements described in Section II.b.2. Discuss the challenges of the selected technology and the specific barriers that could be overcome because of CEC funding.Discuss the current standard system that the demonstrated technology will replace and how it will meet the research goal in Table 2. Provide references to justify your response.Estimate and discuss how costs will be reduced compared to current technology in order to meet the economic goal. Identify specific measures that facilitate system cost reduction, such as elimination of a portion of the steam system.Include a market deployment plan indicating how this technology will be broadly deployed into the market place if the system meets the requirements in Table 2. Identify target market sectors, provide justification for these sectors and estimated market size. Include other market players Provide a minimum of one demonstration site and complete Attachment 11 showing commitment for these sites and addresses.Identify at least one equipment manufacturer and one building owner who may have interest in demonstrating and deploying the technology if the targeted metrics are achievedMeasurement and Verification Plan Include a Measurement and Verification Plan for Group 2 in the Project Narrative (Attachment) that describes how actual project benefits will be measured and quantified, such as by pre and post-project natural gas use (therms, mmBTU/hr), electricity use/production (kilowatt hours, kilowatts), and cost savings for electricity, natural gas, and other benefits. Any estimates of energy savings or GHG impacts must be calculated using the References for Calculating Electricity End-Use, Electricity Demand, and GHG Emissions (Attachment).III.Application Organization and Submission InstructionsApplication Format, Page Limits, and Number of Copies The following table summarizes the application formatting and page limit recommendations:FormatFont: 11-point, Arial (excluding Excel spreadsheets, original template headers and footers, and commitment or support letters)Margins: No less than one inch on all sides (excluding headers and footers)Spacing: Single spaced, with a blank line between each paragraphPages: Numbered and printed double-sided (when determining page limits, each printed side of a page counts as one page)Signatures: Manual (i.e., not electronic)Labeling: Tabbed and labeled as required in Sections B and C belowBinding: Original binder clipped; all other copies spiral or comb bound (binders discouraged)File Format: MS Word version 1997-2003, or version 2007 or later (.doc or .docx format), excluding Excel spreadsheets and commitment or support letters (PDF files are acceptable for the letters)File Storage: Electronic files of the application must be submitted on a CD-ROM or USB memory stickPage Limit RecommendationsExecutive Summary (Attachment): two pages Fact Sheet (Attachment): two pages Project Narrative Form (Attachment): twenty pages excluding documentation for CEQAProject Team Form (Attachment): two pages for each resumeReference and Work Product Form (Attachment): one page for each reference, two pages for each project descriptionCommitment and Support Letter Form (Attachment): two pages, excluding the cover pageThe following attachments are recommended not to exceed seventy pages:Executive Summary FormFact Sheet TemplateProject Narrative Form Scope of Work Template (Attachment)There are no page limits for the following:Application Form (Attachment) Budget Forms (Attachment)CEQA Compliance Form (Attachment)Contact List Template (Attachment)California-Based Entity Form (Attachment)Number of Copies of the ApplicationFor Hard Copy Submittal Only:1 hard copy (with signatures) One electronic copy (on a CD-ROM or USB memory stick)Preferred Method For DeliveryThe preferred method of delivery for this solicitation is the Energy Commission Grant Solicitation System, available at: Grant Solicitation System.?This online tool allows applicants to submit their electronic documents to the Energy Commission prior to the date and time specified in this solicitation.?Electronic files must be in Microsoft Word XP (.doc format) and Excel Office Suite formats unless originally provided in the solicitation in another format.? Attachments requiring signatures may be scanned and submitted in PDF format.? Completed Budget Forms (Attachment) must be in Excel format.? The system will not allow applications to be submitted after the due date and time.First time users must register as a new user to access the system.?Applicants will receive a confirmation email after all required documents have been successfully uploaded. A tutorial of the system will be provided at the pre-application workshops and you may contact the Commission Agreement Officer identified in the Questions section of the solicitation for more assistance.Hard Copy DeliveryAn applicant may also deliver a hard copy of an application by:U. S. MailIn PersonCourier serviceApplications submitted in hard copy must be delivered to the Energy Commission Contracts, Grants and Loans Office according to the schedule in Section I.G. If applications are delivered prior to the due date shown on this schedule, then they can be delivered during normal business hours (8 am – 5 pm) and prior to the date and time specified in this solicitation. Applications received after the specified date and time shown in Section I.G. are considered late and will not be accepted. There are no exceptions to this. Postmark dates of mailing, E-mail and facsimile (FAX) transmissions are not acceptable in whole or in part, under any circumstances. There is no need to submit a hard copy of an application that is submitted through the Grant Solicitation System as it will only cause confusion.Number of CopiesApplicants submitting a hard copy application are only required to submit one paper copy.? Applicants must also submit electronic files of the application on CD-ROM or USB memory stick along with the paper submittal.? Electronic files must be in Microsoft Word XP (.doc format) and Excel Office Suite formats.? Completed Budget Forms (Attachment) must be in Excel format. Electronic files submitted via e-mail will not be accepted.Packaging and LabelingAll hard copy applications must be labeled "Grant Funding Opportunity GFO-19-504," and include the title of the application.Include the following label information on the mailing envelope:Applicant’s Project Manager Applicant’s NameStreet AddressCity, State, and Zip CodeGFO-19-504Contracts, Grants, and Loans Office, MS-18California Energy Commission1516 Ninth Street, 1st FloorSacramento, California 95814Application Organization and ContentFor all hard copy submittals, submit attachments in the order specified below.Label the proposal application cover “Grant Funding Opportunity GFO-19-504” and include: (a) the title of the application; and (b) the applicant’s name.Separate each section of the application by a tab that is labeled only with the tab number and section title indicated below.Tab/Attachment NumberTitle of Section1Application Form (requires signature)2Executive Summary 3Fact Sheet 4Project Narrative 5Project Team 6 (includes 6a)Scope of Work 7Budget 8CEQA Compliance Form 9References and Work Product10Contact List 11Commitment and Support Letters (require signature)12California-Based Entity (CBE) Form13Applicant Declaration (requires signature)Below is a description of each required section of the application Completeness in submitting are the required information requested in each attachment will be factored into the scoring:Application Form (Attachment 1)This form requests basic information about the applicant and the project. The application includes an original form that includes all requested information. The application must be signed by an authorized representative of the applicant’s organization or will be failed as indicated in Section IV.E. Executive Summary Form (Attachment 2)The Executive Summary includes: a project description; the project goals and objectives to be achieved; an explanation of how the goals and objectives will be achieved, quantified, and measured; and a description of the project tasks and overall management of the agreement. Fact Sheet Template (Attachment 3)The project fact sheet presents project information in a manner suitable for publication (if the project receives funding, the Energy Commission may use the fact sheet to publicize the project). The fact sheet follows the template, which includes a summary of project specifics and a description of the issue addressed by the project, a project description, and anticipated benefits for the state of California.Project Narrative Form (Attachment 4) This form will include the majority of the applicant’s responses to the Scoring Criteria in Section IV.Group Specific Questions Include required group specific information (see Section II.B.3) in the specified sections. Project Team Form (Attachment 5)Identify by name all key personnel assigned to the project, including the project manager and principal investigator (if applicable), and individuals employed by any major subcontractor (a major subcontractor is a subcontractor receiving at least 25% of Commission funds or $100,000, whichever is less). Clearly describe their individual areas of responsibility. Include the information required for each individual, including a resume (maximum two pages, printed double-sided).Scope of Work Template (Attachments 6 and 6a)Applicants must include a completed Scope of Work for each project, as instructed in the template. The Scope of Work identifies the tasks required to complete the project. It includes a project schedule that lists all products, meetings, and due dates. All work must be scheduled for completion by the anticipated agreement end date specified in the “Key Activities Schedule” in Part I.Electronic files for Parts I-IV of the Scope of Work are in MS Word. Part V (Project Schedule, Attachment 6a) is in MS Excel.Budget Forms (Attachment 7)The budget forms are in MS Excel format. Detailed instructions for completing them are included at the beginning of Attachment 7. Read the instructions before completing the worksheets. Complete and submit information on all budget worksheets. The salaries, rates, and other costs entered on the worksheets will become a part of the final agreement. All project expenditures (match share and reimbursable) must be made within the approved agreement term. Match share requirements are discussed in Part I of this solicitation. The entire term of the agreement and projected rate increases must be considered when preparing the budget. The budget must reflect estimates for actual costs to be incurred during the agreement term. The Energy Commission may only approve and reimburse for actual costs that are properly documented in accordance with the grant terms and conditions. Rates and personnel shown must reflect the rates and personnel the applicant would include if selected as a Recipient. The proposed rates are considered capped and may not change during the agreement term. The Recipient will only be reimbursed for actual rates up to the rate caps. The budget must NOT include any Recipient profit from the proposed project, either as a reimbursed item, match share, or as part of overhead or general and administrative expenses (subcontractor profit is allowable, though the maximum percentage allowed is 10 % of the total subcontractor rates for labor, and other direct and indirect costs as indicated in the Category Budget form). Please review the terms and conditions and budget forms for additional restrictions and requirements.The budget must allow for the expenses of all meetings and products described in the Scope of Work. Meetings may be conducted at the Energy Commission or by conference call, as determined by the Commission Agreement Manager.Applicants must budget for permits and insurance. Permitting costs may be accounted for in match share (please see the discussion of permits in the Scope of Work, Attachment 6). The budget must NOT identify that Energy Commission’s natural gas funds will be spent outside of the United States or for out of country travel.? However, match funds may cover these costs if there are no legal restrictions.Prevailing wage requirement: Projects that receive an award of public funds from the Energy Commission often involve construction, alteration, demolition, installation, repair or maintenance work over $1,000. For this reason, projects that receive an award of public funds from the Energy Commission are likely to be considered public works under the California Labor Code. See Chapter 1 of Part 7 of Division 2 of the California Labor Code, commencing with Section 1720 and Title 8, California Code of Regulations, Chapter 8, Subchapter 3, commencing with Section 16000.Projects deemed to be public works require among other things the payment of prevailing wages, which can be significantly higher than non-prevailing wages.By accepting this grant, Recipient as a material term of this agreement shall be fully responsible for complying with all California public works requirements including but not limited to payment of prevailing wage. Therefore, as a material term of this grant, Recipient must either:(a) Proceed on the assumption that the project is a public work and ensure that: prevailing wages are paid; andthe project budget for labor reflects these prevailing wage requirements; and the project complies with all other requirements of prevailing wage law including but not limited to keeping accurate payroll records, and complying with all working hour requirements and apprenticeship obligations; or, (b) Timely obtain a legally binding determination from the Department of Industrial Relations or a court of competent jurisdiction before work begins on the project that the proposed project is not a public work.California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Compliance Form (Attachment 8)The Energy Commission requires the information on this form to facilitate its evaluation of proposed activities under CEQA (California Public Resources Code Section 21000 et. seq.), a law that requires state and local agencies in California to assess the potential environmental impacts of their proposed actions. The form will also help applicants to determine CEQA compliance obligations by identifying which proposed activities may be exempt from CEQA and which activities may require additional environmental review. If proposed activities are exempt from CEQA (such as paper studies), the worksheet will help to identify and document this. This form must be completed regardless of whether the proposed activities are considered a “project” under CEQA. Failure to complete the CEQA process in a timely manner after the Energy Commission’s Notice of Proposed Award may result in the cancellation of a proposed award and allocation of funding to the next highest-scoring project.Reference and Work Product Form (Attachment 9)Section 1: Provide applicant and subcontractor references as instructed. Section 2: Provide a list of past projects detailing technical and business experience of the applicant (or any member of the project team) that is related to the proposed work. Identify past projects that resulted in market-ready technology, advancement of codes and standards, and/or advancement of state energy policy. Include copies of up to three of the applicant or team member’s recent publications in scientific or technical journals related to the proposed project, as applicable.Contact List Template (Attachment 10)The list identifies the names and contact information of the project manager, administrator, accounting officer, and recipient of legal notices. Commitment and Support Letter Form (Attachment 11)A commitment letter commits an entity or individual to providing the service or funding described in the letter. A support letter details an entity or individual’s support for the project. Commitment and Support Letters must be submitted with the application. Letters that are not submitted by the application deadline will not be reviewed and counted towards meeting the requirement specified in the solicitation. Commitment LettersIf match funding will be provided that exceeds the minimum requirements in section I.F., applicants must submit a match funding commitment letter signed by each representative of the entity or individual that is committing to providing match funding. The letter must: (1) identify the source(s) of the funds; and (2) guarantee the availability of the funds for the project. If match funding is required, applicants must submit a match funding commitment letter signed by each representative of the entity or individual that is committing to providing match funding. The letter must: (1) identify the source(s) of the funds; and (2) guarantee the availability of the funds for the project.If the project involves demonstration activities, the applicant must include a site commitment letter signed by an authorized representative of the proposed demonstration site. The letter must: (1) identify the location of the site (street address, parcel number, tract map, plot map, etc.) which must be consistent with Attachments 1 and 8. and (2) commit to providing the site for the proposed activities. Project partners that are making contributions other than match funding or a / demonstration site, and are not receiving Energy Commission funds, must submit a commitment letter signed by an authorized representative that: (1) identifies how the partner will contribute to the project; and (2) commits to making the contribution. Support LettersAll applicants must include at least one support letter from a project stakeholder (i.e., an entity or individual that will benefit from or be involved in the project) that: (1) describes the stakeholder’s interest or involvement in the project; (2) indicates the extent to which the project has the support of the relevant industry and/or organizations; and (3) describes any support it intends (but does not necessarily commit) to provide for the project, such as funding or the provision of a demonstration site.California-Based Entities Form (Attachment 12)Identify any California-based entities as instructed in the form. California-based entities are entitled to a scoring preference as described in Part II of this solicitation.Applicant Declaration (Attachment 13)This form requests the applicant declare that they: are not delinquent on taxes nor suspended by the California Franchise Tax Board; are not being sued by any public agency or entity; are in compliance with the terms of all settlement agreements, if any, entered into with the Energy Commission or another public agency or entity; are in compliance with all judgments, if any, issued against the Applicant in any matter to which the Energy Commission or another public agency or entity is a party; has neither refused to adhere to nor not taken action on any demand letter made on the Applicant by the Energy Commission or another public agency or entity; and are not in active litigation with the Energy Commission regarding the Applicant’s actions under a current or past contract, grant, or loan with the Energy Commission. The declaration must be signed under penalty of perjury by an authorized representative of the applicant’s organization.IV.Evaluation and Award Process Application EvaluationApplications will be evaluated and scored based on responses to the information requested in this solicitation and on any other information available, such as past performance of CEC agreements. To evaluate applications, the Energy Commission will organize an Evaluation Committee that consists primarily of Energy Commission staff. The Evaluation Committee may use technical expert reviewers to provide an analysis of applications. Applications will be evaluated in two stages:Stage One: Application Screening The Contracts, Grants, and Loans Office and/or the Evaluation Committee will screen applications for compliance with the Screening Criteria in Section E of this Part. Applications that fail any of the screening criteria will be rejected.Stage Two: Application Scoring Applications that pass Stage One will be submitted to the Evaluation Committee for review and scoring based on the Scoring Criteria in Section F of this Part. The scores for each application will be the average of the combined scores of all Evaluation Committee members. A minimum score of 80.50 points is required for the application to be eligible for funding. In addition, the application must receive a minimum score of 6 points for criteria 1, and 63.00 points for criteria 1?5 to be eligible for funding. Clarification Interviews: The Evaluation Committee may conduct optional in-person, telephone or email interviews with applicants during the evaluation process to clarify and/or verify information submitted in the application. However, these interviews may not be used to change or add to the content of the original application. Applicants will not be reimbursed for time spent answering clarifying questions.Ranking, Notice of Proposed Award, and Agreement DevelopmentRanking and Notice of Proposed AwardApplications that receive a minimum score of 80.50 points for all criteria will be ranked according to their score. The Energy Commission will post a Notice of Proposed Award (NOPA) that includes: (1) the total proposed funding amount; (2) the rank order of applicants; and (3) the amount of each proposed award. The Commission will post the NOPA at its headquarters in Sacramento and on its website, and will mail it to all entities that submitted an application. Proposed awards must be approved by the Commission at a business meeting.Debriefings: Unsuccessful applicants may request a debriefing after the release of theNOPA by contacting the Commission Agreement Officer listed in Part I. A request for debriefing must be received no later than 30 calendar days after the NOPA is released.In addition to any of its other rights, the Energy Commission reserves the right to:Allocate any additional funds to passing applications, in rank order; andNegotiate with successful applicants to modify the project scope, schedule, and/or level of funding. AgreementsApplications recommended for funding will be developed into a grant agreement to be considered at an Energy Commission Business Meeting. Recipients may begin the project only after full execution of the grant agreement (i.e., approval at an Energy Commission business meeting and signature by the Recipient and the Energy Commission).Resolution Requirement (for government agency recipients only): Prior to approval of the agreement at a business meeting, government agency recipients (e.g., federal, state, and local governments; air/water/school districts; joint power authorities; and state universities) must provide a resolution that authorizes the agency to enter into the agreement and is signed by a representative authorized to execute the agreement and all documents related to the award. Resolutions must include: (1) a brief description of the project; (2) the award amount; and (3) an acceptance of the award. Agreement Development: The Contracts, Grants, and Loans Office will send the Recipient a grant agreement for approval and signature. The agreement will include the applicable terms and conditions and will incorporate this solicitation by reference. The Energy Commission reserves the right to modify the award documents (including the terms and conditions) prior to executing any agreement.Failure to Execute an Agreement: If the Energy Commission is unable to successfully execute an agreement with an applicant, it reserves the right to cancel the pending award and to fund the next highest-ranked, eligible application.Agreement Amendment: The executed agreement may be amended by mutual consent of the Energy Commission and the Recipient. The agreement may requireamendment as a result of project review, changes in project scope, and/or availability of funding.Grounds to Reject an Application or Cancel an AwardApplications that do not pass the screening stage will be rejected. In addition, the Energy Commission reserves the right to reject an application and/or to cancel an award for any reason, including but not limited to the following:The application contains false or intentionally misleading statements or references that do not support an attribute or condition contended by the applicant.The application is intended to erroneously and fallaciously mislead the State in its evaluation and the attribute, condition, or capability is a requirement of this solicitation.The application does not comply or contains caveats that conflict with the solicitation, and the variation or deviation is material.The applicant has previously received funding through a Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) agreement, has received the PIER royalty review letter (which the Energy Commission annually sends out to remind past recipients of their obligations to pay royalties), and has not responded to the letter or is otherwise not in compliance with repaying royalties.The applicant has received unsatisfactory agreement evaluations from the Energy Commission or another California state agency.The applicant is a business entity that is not in good standing with the California Secretary of State.The applicant has not demonstrated that it has the financial capability to complete the project.The applicant fails to meet CEQA compliance within sufficient time for the Energy Commission to meet its encumbrance deadline, as the Energy Commission in its sole and absolute discretion may determine.MiscellaneousSolicitation Cancellation and AmendmentIt is the policy of the Energy Commission not to solicit applications unless there is a bona fide intention to award an agreement. However, if it is in the State’s best interest, the Energy Commission reserves the right, in addition to any other rights it has, to do any of the following:Cancel this solicitation;Revise the amount of funds available under this solicitation;Amend this solicitation as needed; and/orReject any or all applications received in response to this solicitation.If the solicitation is amended, the Energy Commission will send an addendum to all entities that requested the solicitation, and will also post it on the Energy Commission’s website at: Energy Commission Contracts. The Energy Commission will not reimburse applicants for application development expenses under any circumstances, including cancellation of the solicitation.Modification or Withdrawal of ApplicationApplicants may withdraw or modify a submitted application before the deadline to submit applications by sending a letter to the Commission Agreement Officer listed in Part I. Applications cannot be changed after that date and time. An Application cannot be “timed” to expire on a specific date. For example, a statement such as the following is non-responsive to the solicitation: “This application and the cost estimate are valid for 60 days.”ConfidentialityThough the entire evaluation process from receipt of applications up to the posting of the NOPA is confidential, all submitted documents will become publicly available records after the Energy Commission posts the NOPA or the solicitation is cancelled. The Energy Commission will not accept or retain applications that identify any portion as confidential. Solicitation ErrorsIf an applicant discovers any ambiguity, conflict, discrepancy, omission, or other error in the solicitation, the applicant should immediately notify the Energy Commission of the error in writing and request modification or clarification of the solicitation. The Energy Commission will provide modifications or clarifications by written notice to all entities that requested the solicitation. The Energy Commission will not be responsible for failure to correct errors.Immaterial DefectThe Energy Commission may waive any immaterial defect or deviation contained in an application. The Energy Commission’s waiver will not modify the application or excuse the successful applicant from full compliance with solicitation requirements.Disposition of Applicant’s DocumentsUpon the posting of the NOPA, all applications and related materials submitted in response to this solicitation will become property of the State and publicly available records. Unsuccessful applicants who seek the return of any materials must make this request to the Agreement Officer listed in Part I, and provide sufficient postage to fund the cost of returning the materials.Stage One: Application ScreeningScreening Criteria The Application must pass ALL criteria to progress to Stage Two.Pass/FailThe application is received by the Energy Commission’s Contracts, Grants, and Loans Office by the due date and time specified in the “Key Activities Schedule” in Part I of this solicitation and is received in the required manner (e.g., no emails or faxes). FORMCHECKBOX Pass FORMCHECKBOX FailThe Application Form (Attachment) is signed where indicated. FORMCHECKBOX Pass FORMCHECKBOX FailThe application addresses only one of the eligible project groups, as indicated on the Application Form. FORMCHECKBOX Pass FORMCHECKBOX FailThe Applicant Declaration Form (Attachment) is signed where indicated. FORMCHECKBOX Pass FORMCHECKBOX FailIf the applicant has submitted more than one application for the same project group, each application is for a distinct project (i.e., no overlap with respect to the tasks described in the Scope of Work). If the projects are not distinct and the applications were submitted at the same time, only the first application screened by the Energy Commission will be eligible for funding. If the applications were submitted separately, only the first application received by the Energy Commission will be eligible for funding. FORMCHECKBOX Pass FORMCHECKBOX FailFor Group 2: The Application includes Commitment Letters that total the minimum of 20% in match share of the total requested Energy Commission funds. FORMCHECKBOX Pass FORMCHECKBOX FailFor Group 2: If the project involves technology demonstration/ deployment activitiesThe Application identifies one or more demonstration/ deployment site locations.The proposal includes a site commitment letter (Section III.D.11) for each demonstration/ deployment site. FORMCHECKBOX Pass FORMCHECKBOX FailStage Two: Application ScoringProposals that pass ALL Stage One Screening Criteria and are not rejected as described in Section IV.C. will be evaluated based on the Scoring Criteria on the next page and the Scoring Scale below (with the exception of criteria 7?8, which will be evaluated as described in each criterion). Each criterion has an assigned number of possible points, and is divided into multiple sub-criteria. The sub-criteria are not equally weighted. The Project Narrative (Attachment) must respond to each sub-criterion, unless otherwise indicated. The minimum passing score for criteria 1 is 6 points, criteria 1?5 is 63.00 points and the total minimum passing score is 80.50 out of 115 points for criteria 1 - 8.The points for criteria 6?8 will only be applied to proposals that achieve the minimum score for criteria 1?5. The points for criteria 9-11 will only be applied to proposals that achieve the minimum scores for criteria 1, 2-5 and criteria 1-8.Scoring Scale% of Possible PointsInterpretationExplanation for Percentage Points 0%Not ResponsiveResponse does not include or fails to address the requirements being scored. The omission(s), flaw(s), or defect(s) are significant and unacceptable.10-30%Minimally ResponsiveResponse minimally addresses the requirements being scored. The omission(s), flaw(s), or defect(s) are significant and unacceptable.40-60%InadequateResponse addresses the requirements being scored, but there are one or more omissions, flaws, or defects or the requirements are addressed in such a limited way that it results in a low degree of confidence in the proposed solution.70%AdequateResponse adequately addresses the requirements being scored. Any omission(s), flaw(s), or defect(s) are inconsequential and acceptable.75%Between Adequate and GoodResponse better than adequately addresses the requirements being scored. Any omission(s), flaw(s), or defect(s) are inconsequential and acceptable.80%GoodResponse fully addresses the requirements being scored with a good degree of confidence in the applicant’s response or proposed solution. No identified omission(s), flaw(s), or defect(s). Any identified weaknesses are minimal, inconsequential, and acceptable.85%Between Good and ExcellentResponse fully addresses the requirements being scored with a better than good degree of confidence in the applicant’s response or proposed solution. No identified omission(s), flaw(s), or defect(s). Any identified weaknesses are minimal, inconsequential, and acceptable.90%ExcellentResponse fully addresses the requirements being scored with a high degree of confidence in the applicant’s response or proposed solution. Applicant offers one or more enhancing features, methods or approaches exceeding basic expectations.95%Between Excellent and ExceptionalResponse fully addresses the requirements being scored with a better than excellent degree of confidence in the applicant’s response or proposed solution. Applicant offers one or more enhancing features, methods or approaches exceeding basic expectations.100%ExceptionalAll requirements are addressed with the highest degree of confidence in the applicant’s response or proposed solution. The response exceeds the requirements in providing multiple enhancing features, a creative approach, or an exceptional solution.Scoring CRITERIAGroup 1: Develop advanced energy efficiency technology and decarbonization retrofit guidebook for hospitalsScoring CriteriaMaximum PointsApplicant Past Performance with Energy CommissionThe applicant—defined as at least one of the following: the business, principal investigator, or lead individual acting on behalf of themselves—received funds from the Energy Commission (e.g., contract, grant, or loan) and entered into an agreement(s) with the Commission through which the following performance was demonstrated:Severe performance issues (0-5 points): Severe performance issues are characterized by significant negative outcomes, which may include significant deviation from agreement requirements, termination with cause, and/or severe negative audit findings.Moderate performance issues (6-12 points): Moderate performance issues are characterized by noncompliance with agreement requirements, frequent poor performance and conduct, and/or the issuance of moderate audit findings. No/minor performance issues (13-15 points): No/minor issues are characterized by compliance with agreement requirements while demonstrating no minor performance issues. An applicant that has not received funds from the Energy Commission (e.g., contract, grant, or loan) through an agreement with the Energy Commission will receive 15 points. 15Total Possible Points for criteria(Minimum Passing Score is 6)15The Project Narrative (Attachment) must respond to each criterion below. The responses must directly relate to the solicitation requirements and focus as stated in the solicitation. Any estimates of energy savings or GHG impacts should be calculated as specified in the References for Calculating Energy End-Use and GHG Emissions (Attachment), to the extent that the references apply to the proposed project.Scoring CriteriaMaximum PointsTechnical Merit The proposed project provides a clear and concise description of the technological, scientific knowledge advancement, and/or innovation that will overcome barriers to achieving the State’s statutory energy goals..Describe how the proposed guidebook will be used by key stakeholders (e.g. policy-makers, project developers, other researchers, etc.).Describes the advantage of the proposed guidebook over that currently being used by key stakeholders.15Technical Approach Proposal describes the technique, approach, and methods to be used in performing the work described in the Scope of Work. The Scope of Work identifies goals, objectives, and deliverables, details the work to be performed, and aligns with the information presented in Project Narrative.Proposal identifies the reliability that the project and site recommendations as described will be carried out if funds are awarded.Identifies and discusses factors critical for success, in addition to risks, barriers, and limitations (e.g. loss of demonstration site, key subcontractor). Provides a plan to address them. Discusses the degree to which the proposed work is technically feasible and achievable within the proposed Project Schedule and the key activities schedule in Section I.G.Describes the knowledge transfer plan, including how key stakeholders and potential users will be engaged, and the plan to disseminate knowledge of the project’s results to those stakeholders and users.Provides information described in Section II.B.2. 25Impacts and Benefits for California IOU Ratepayers Explains how the proposed project will benefit California Investor-Owned Utility (IOU) ratepayers and provides clear, plausible, and justifiable (quantitative preferred) potential benefits. Estimates the energy benefits including: annual electricity and thermal savings (e.g., kilowatt-hour and therms), energy cost reductions, infrastructure resiliency, infrastructure reliability.In addition, estimates the non-energy benefits including: greenhouse gas emission reductions, air emission reductions (e.g. NOx), water savings and cost reduction, and/or increased safety.States the timeframe, assumptions with sources, and calculations for the estimated benefits, and explains their reasonableness. Include baseline or “business as usual” over timeframe. Identifies how outputs of the guidebook will benefit key stakeholders (e.g., streamline planning, help eliminate barriers, stimulate growth of applicable market sectors).20Team Qualifications, Capabilities, and ResourcesEvaluations of ongoing or previous projects will be used in scoring for this criterion.Identifies credentials of prime and any subcontractor key personnel, including the project manager, principal investigator and technology and knowledge transfer lead (include this information in the Project Team Form).Demonstrates that the project team has appropriate qualifications, experience, financial stability and capability to complete the project.Explains the team structure and how various tasks will be managed and coordinated.Describes the facilities, infrastructure, and resources available that directly support the project.Describes the team’s history of successfully completing projects in the past 10 years including subsequent deployments and commercialization.Provides information described in Section II.B.2.15Total Possible Points for criteria 1? 5(Minimum Passing Score for criteria 1? 5 is 70% or 63.00)90Budget and Cost-EffectivenessBudget forms are complete for the applicant and all subcontractors, as described in the Budget instructions.Justifies the reasonableness of the requested funds relative to the project goals, objectives, and tasks.Justifies the reasonableness of direct costs (e.g., labor, fringe benefits, equipment, materials & misc. travel, and subcontractors).Justifies the reasonableness of indirect costs (e.g., overhead, facility charges (e.g., rent, utilities), burdens, subcontractor profit, and other like costs). 10CEC Funds Spent in CaliforniaProjects that spend PIER natural gas funds in California will receive points as indicated in the table below. “Spent in California” means that: (1) Funds under the “Direct Labor” category and all categories calculated based on direct labor (Prime and Subcontractor Labor Rates) are paid to individuals who pay California state income taxes on wages received for work performed under the agreement; and/or (2) Business transactions (e.g., material and equipment purchases, leases, rentals, and contractual work) are entered into with a business located in California. Airline ticket purchases for out-of-state travel and payments made to out-of-state workers are not considered funds “spent in California.” However, funds spent by out-of-state workers in California (e.g., hotel and food) and airline travel originating and ending in California are considered funds “spent in California.”Percentage of CEC funds spent in CA(derived from budget Attachment )Percentage of Possible Points>60% 20%>65% 30%>70%40%>75% 50%>80%60%>85% 70%>90%80%>95% 90%>98%100% 10Ratio of Direct Labor to Indirect CostsThe score for this criterion will be calculated by the following formula:Total Direct LaborTotal Direct Labor + Total Fringe + Total Indirect + Total ProfitThis ratio will then be multiplied by the maximum possible points for this criterion and rounded to two decimal places.NOTE: For the purposes of this criteria, the Energy Commission will include the facility charges (e.g., rent, utilities, etc.), burdens and other like costs that are budgeted as direct costs into the indirect costs in the formula.5Total Possible Points(Minimum Passing Score for Criteria 1 – 8 is 70% or 80.5)115Preference Points Applications must meet both minimum passing scores (Scoring Criteria 1, 1-5, and 1-8) to be eligible for the additional points.California Based Entities (CBE) Preference Points A CBE is a corporation or other business form organized for the transaction of business that either:Has its headquarters in California AND manufactures in California the product that is the subject of the award; orHas an office for the transaction of business in California and substantially manufactures the product or substantially performs the research within California that is the subject of the award.Proposals must meet the following requirements in order to receive CBE preference points:The proposal must include a CBE as either the recipient or a subcontractor. The budget must show that the CBE(s) will receive more than 60.00% of the PIER funds awarded.Projects that meet these requirements will receive preference points as indicated below:Percentage of PIER Natural Gas Funds Allocated to CBEs(derived from budget attachment “Category Budget”)Percentage of Possible Points> 60%20%> 70% 40%> 80% 60%> 90% 80%=100%100%5Match Funds Cash match share is preferred. Points for this criterion will be evaluated based on the ratio of proposed Cash contributions to requested CEC funds using the Match Scoring Table:Match Scoring TablePercentage of Proposed Cash Match FundsScore≥ 80%560 to <80%440 to <60%320 to <40%2 5Additional points will be awarded to applications that exceed the minimum match requirements up to 100 percent of requested CEC funds using the Exceeds Minimum Match Scoring table:Exceeds Minimum Match Scoring TablePercentage above Minimum Match (cash and in-kind)Score80 to 100%560 to <80%440 to <60%320 to <40%25Scoring CRITERIAGroup 2: Demonstrate and deploy emerging space and/or water heating solutions to decarbonize large commercial buildingsScoring CriteriaMaximum PointsApplicant Past Performance with Energy CommissionThe applicant—defined as at least one of the following: the business, principal investigator, or lead individual acting on behalf of themselves—received funds from the Energy Commission (e.g., contract, grant, or loan) and entered into an agreement(s) with the Commission through which the following performance was demonstrated:Severe performance issues (0-5 points): Severe performance issues are characterized by significant negative outcomes, which may include significant deviation from agreement requirements, termination with cause, and/or severe negative audit findings.Moderate performance issues (6-12 points): Moderate performance issues are characterized by noncompliance with agreement requirements, frequent poor performance and conduct, and/or the issuance of moderate audit findings. No/minor performance issues (13-15 points): No/minor issues are characterized by compliance with agreement requirements while demonstrating no minor performance issues. An applicant that has not received funds from the Energy Commission (e.g., contract, grant, or loan) through an agreement with the Energy Commission will receive 15 points. 15Total Possible Points for criteria(Minimum Passing Score is 6)15The Project Narrative (Attachment) must respond to each criterion below. The responses must directly relate to the solicitation requirements and focus as stated in the solicitation. Any estimates of energy savings or GHG impacts should be calculated as specified in the References for Calculating Energy End-Use and GHG Emissions (Attachment), to the extent that the references apply to the proposed project.Scoring CriteriaMaximum PointsTechnical Merit The proposed project provides a clear and concise description of the technological, scientific knowledge advancement, and/or innovation that will overcome barriers to achieving the State’s statutory energy goals.Describes the competitive advantages of the proposed technology over state-of-the-art (e.g., efficiency, emissions, durability, cost).Provides the proposed technical specifications and describe how the project will meet or exceed the technical specifications by the end of the project.Describes the technology readiness level (TRL) the proposed technology has achieved and the expected TRL by the end of the project.Describes at what scale the technology has been successfully demonstrated, including size or capacity, number of previous installations, location and duration, results, etc.Describes how the proposed demonstration will lead to increased adoption of the technology in California.15Technical Approach Proposal describes the technique, approach, and methods to be used in performing the work described in the Scope of Work. The Scope of Work identifies goals, objectives, and deliverables, details the work to be performed, and aligns with the information presented in Project Narrative.Proposal identifies the reliability that the project and site recommendations as described will be carried out if funds are awarded.Identifies and discusses factors critical for success, in addition to risks, barriers, and limitations (e.g. loss of demonstration site, key subcontractor). Provides a plan to address them. Discusses the degree to which the proposed work is technically feasible and achievable within the proposed Project Schedule and the key activities schedule in Section I.G.Describes the technology transfer plan to assess and advance the commercial viability of the technology.Provides a clear and plausible measurement and verification plan that describes how energy savings and other benefits specified in the application will be determined and measured.Provides information documenting progress towards achieving compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by addressing the areas in Section I.D, and Section III.D.4, and Section III.D.8Provides information described in Section II.B.2. 25Impacts and Benefits for California IOU Ratepayers Explains how the proposed project will benefit California Investor-Owned Utility (IOU) ratepayers and provides clear, plausible, and justifiable (quantitative preferred) potential benefits. Estimates the energy benefits including: annual electricity and thermal savings (e.g., kilowatt-hour and therms), energy cost reductions, infrastructure resiliency, infrastructure reliability.In addition, estimates the non-energy benefits including: greenhouse gas emission reductions, air emission reductions (e.g. NOx), water savings and cost reduction, and/or increased safety.States the timeframe, assumptions with sources, and calculations for the estimated benefits, and explains their reasonableness. Include baseline or “business as usual” over timeframe. Explains the path-to-market strategy including near-term (i.e. initial target markets), mid-term, and long-term markets for the technology, size and penetration or deployment rates, and underlying assumptionsIdentifies the expected financial performance (e.g. payback period, ROI) of the demonstration at scale. Identifies the specific programs which the technology intends to leverage. (e.g. feed-in tariffs, IOU rebates, storage) and extent to which technology meets program requirements.20Team Qualifications, Capabilities, and ResourcesEvaluations of ongoing or previous projects will be used in scoring for this criterion.Identifies credentials of prime and any subcontractor key personnel, including the project manager, principal investigator and technology and knowledge transfer lead (include this information in the Project Team Form).Demonstrates that the project team including Community Based Organization has appropriate qualifications, experience, financial stability and capability to complete the project.Explains the team structure and how various tasks will be managed and coordinated.Describes the facilities, infrastructure, and resources available that directly support the project.Describes the team’s history of successfully completing projects in the past 10 years including subsequent deployments and commercialization.Identify and describe experience in preparing guidebooksDiscuss the current status of these guidebooks and how many users (e.g., web hits, etc.)Describe experience with the technologies listed in Table 1, including the application, your role and the outcome.Identify other technologies to be considered and why.Describe and provide examples of specific experience with healthcare facilities that actually resulted in implementation of energy efficiency measures to reduce natural gas consumption. Include both technical and regulatory experience.Describe experience with implementing advanced energy efficiency measures for those listed in Table 1 as well as othes for healthcare facilities and the results. Include both technical, economic and regulatory experience. 15Total Possible Points for criteria 1? 5(Minimum Passing Score for criteria 1? 5 is 70% or 63.00)90Budget and Cost-EffectivenessBudget forms are complete for the applicant and all subcontractors, as described in the Budget instructions.Justifies the reasonableness of the requested funds relative to the project goals, objectives, and tasks.Justifies the reasonableness of direct costs (e.g., labor, fringe benefits, equipment, materials & misc. travel, and subcontractors).Justifies the reasonableness of indirect costs (e.g., overhead, facility charges (e.g., rent, utilities), burdens, subcontractor profit, and other like costs). 10CEC Funds Spent in CaliforniaProjects that spend PIER natural gas funds in California will receive points as indicated in the table below. “Spent in California” means that: (1) Funds under the “Direct Labor” category and all categories calculated based on direct labor (Prime and Subcontractor Labor Rates) are paid to individuals who pay California state income taxes on wages received for work performed under the agreement; and/or (2) Business transactions (e.g., material and equipment purchases, leases, rentals, and contractual work) are entered into with a business located in California. Airline ticket purchases for out-of-state travel and payments made to out-of-state workers are not considered funds “spent in California.” However, funds spent by out-of-state workers in California (e.g., hotel and food) and airline travel originating and ending in California are considered funds “spent in California.”Percentage of CEC funds spent in CA(derived from budget Attachment )Percentage of Possible Points>60% 20%>65% 30%>70%40%>75% 50%>80%60%>85% 70%>90%80%>95% 90%>98%100% 10Ratio of Direct Labor to Indirect CostsThe score for this criterion will be calculated by the following formula:Total Direct LaborTotal Direct Labor + Total Fringe + Total Indirect + Total ProfitThis ratio will then be multiplied by the maximum possible points for this criterion and rounded to two decimal places.NOTE: For the purposes of this criteria, the Energy Commission will include the facility charges (e.g., rent, utilities, etc.), burdens and other like costs that are budgeted as direct costs into the indirect costs in the formula.5Total Possible Points(Minimum Passing Score for Criteria 1 – 8 is 70% or 80.5)115Preference Points Applications must meet both minimum passing scores (Scoring Criteria 1, 1-5, and 1-8) to be eligible for the additional points.California Based Entities (CBE) Preference Points A CBE is a corporation or other business form organized for the transaction of business that either:Has its headquarters in California AND manufactures in California the product that is the subject of the award; orHas an office for the transaction of business in California and substantially manufactures the product or substantially performs the research within California that is the subject of the award.Proposals must meet the following requirements in order to receive CBE preference points:The proposal must include a CBE as either the recipient or a subcontractor. The budget must show that the CBE(s) will receive more than 60.00% of the PIER funds awarded.Projects that meet these requirements will receive preference points as indicated below:Percentage of PIER Natural Gas Funds Allocated to CBEs(derived from budget attachment “Category Budget”)Percentage of Possible Points> 60%20%> 70% 40%> 80% 60%> 90% 80%=100%100%5Match Funds Cash match share is preferred. Points for this criterion will be evaluated based on the ratio of proposed Cash contributions to requested CEC funds using the Match Scoring Table:Match Scoring TablePercentage of Proposed Cash Match FundsScore≥ 80%560 to <80%440 to <60%320 to <40%2 5Additional points will be awarded to applications that exceed the minimum match requirements up to 100 percent of requested CEC funds using the Exceeds Minimum Match Scoring table:Exceeds Minimum Match Scoring TablePercentage above Minimum Match (cash and in-kind)Score80 to 100%560 to <80%440 to <60%320 to <40%25Disadvantaged & Low-Income Communities The project benefits the disadvantaged and/or low-income community in order to receive additional points. Proposal identifies how the target market(s) will benefit disadvantaged and/or low-income communities.Identifies economic impact on low-income and disadvantaged communities including customer bill savings, job creation, partnering and contracting with micro- and small-businesses, and economic development.Describes how the project will increase access to clean energy or sustainability technologies within disadvantaged or low-income communities and how the development will benefit the communities.Applicants have letters of support from technology partners, community based organizations, environmental justice organizations, or other partners that demonstrate equity, feasibility, and commercial viability in low-income and disadvantaged communities.5 ................
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